2010 Cactus League trip recap special #6

Chone Figgins and Ichiro look to gel during spring training and form a top of the lineup duo, to ignite the Seattle Mariners - on paper, the Seattle Mariners look to be at the top of the American League West. However, I don't think they are a finished product and wouldn't be surprised if they took a step back, before they can take a step forward. 

Can the starting pitching hold up after Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee - will the offense be able to score enough runs? Will Milton Bradley put together a relatively healthy and productive season? 

Ichiro is some kind of freak, but does his 'homeboy,' Ken Griffey Jr. have one more season - where his bat speed resembles something more of what fans saw in the late 1990s or even when healthy in the 2000s.

In putting together a revamped Mariners team, GM Jack Zduriencik has had a cult-like following among mainstream baseball pundits and statheads alike - but is Zduriencik's 2010 Mariners good enough to compete against the Angels?

I'm an Angels fan and it is going to be exciting to see how the two squads battle it out in 2010 - since they should be the top teams to battle for the division title.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #5

This post is about several pictures I took at a Chicago Cubs / Arizona Diamondbacks spring training game - including a banner advertising an event held by baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, who has a table set-up at HoHoKam Park [with some other retired players making appearances like Lee Smith, Bob Dernier, HOF Rollie Fingers, etc] to sell autographed items and to sign autographs as well [for a small fee]. 

An unknown Cubs player heading to the locker room after pre-game BP signing autographs for fans - access to get autographs from Manager Lou Piniella and the better players [think Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez, maybe Derrek Lee] on the Cubs is often times hit-and-miss, because of the reluctance of those high-paid players to show appreciation for the team's strong fanbase. 

Among established veteran players - be happy if Ted Lilly and Carlos Silva relent to sign an autograph. Ryan Dempster is typically pretty good about signing too.

Here is a banner with a Web site address to support an initiative to add surcharge on spring training tickets sold - so the Chicago Cubs can get a new ballpark in Arizona.

Shortstop Starlin Castro, the crown jewel of the Chicago Cubs' farm system finishes his day on the field, running in-between innings - I'm pretty sure it is him.

Chicago Cubs pregame warm-up before the game - maybe unlike other Cactus League ballparks, there are people everywhere at HoHoKam and while it isn't like the real deal back at Wrigley Field in Chicago, going to a Cubs game in spring training is kind of an event in itself.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #4

Brett Anderson throws in a side session during an Oakland Athletics workout at their facility at Papago Park - so far he pretty much signs anything put in his face.

The Angels will always be my team but visiting the Oakland Athletics camp once or twice in spring training - seems like a spring training 'must-go' destination in order to get handfuls of autographs, even though their 'stars' may pale in comparison to more popular teams training in the Cactus League.

I'm not sure if the change is permanent, but during my last week in Arizona, I'd read in the local paper, the A's moved their Major League team workouts to their spring training stadium [Phoenix Municipal Stadium] - because it was easier for the players and staff to work from the stadium, than at their facility at Papago Park.

Hopefully access to getting players' autographs isn't curtailed during the spring - even though the A's are generally a good signing team anyway, though some players may not always feel like signing everything for everyone [Jack Cust, Ben Sheets, Eric Chavez, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Travis Buck...]

Trevor Cahill [pictured signing] and Anderson are relatively young players on the A's, who maybe the future pitching aces for the franchises - at this point, they are very accomodating signers. 

I think Justin Duchscherer [obscured by his cap and the sea of people] said he likes to sign because one day - people won't be asking for his autograph anymore.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #3

During my trip to the Cactus League, my friend and I visited the Angels' camp in Tempe - after he was done with his Japanese media obligations new Angels' slugger Hideki Matsui relented to sign for fans waiting at the rail at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

I was the second to get Matsui's autograph that day [my friend was the first] - but we had to get out of the way fast, because as Matsui signed 25-30 autographs, he was mobbed by fans and collectors waiting on him. This wasn't as bad as when Ichiro signed over at Peoria, but it was still a mess trying to get Godzilla.

Trying to get the all-stars in a supposed relaxed setting like spring training is like trying to jump into a mosh pit during a rock concert - the mass of humanity is unforgiving at times, but it seems all worth it, when coming away with an autograph.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #2

I got Aroldis Chapman's autograph on an odd-sized image photo print [a little smaller than an 8x10] during a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians - he signed by the camera well near third base and looked to have stopped once the National Anthem was being sung.

After, I made my way towards were he was lingering and called out to him with others who wanted his autograph - he signed several more before finally walking away.

My very fortunate friend also got Chapman's autograph, but towards at the end of the day, when I spotted Chapman in street clothes at the Reds' development complex - Chapman was waiting to be picked up and when his ride arrived, he was swarmed by five or six people and signed maybe two or three as someone from the player development complex came out and was trying to usher Chapman away.

Reds Manager Dusty Baker, as well as several other aspiring players in the Reds organization - stopped in their vehicles to sign for those still waiting for autographs as they were leaving for the day, including Yonder Alonso, Drew Stubbs, Chris Valaika, Mike Leake, Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette and Travis Wood.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #1

Being able to get out to Arizona for an 11 day spring training trip from the end of February through the beginning of March - made me feel enthused about the upcoming MLB season. The worst part of the off-season is stockpiling baseball cards and other stuff and having no place to go to get them signed.

Once the autograph numbers piled up and I start to see other people chasing after players, I start to feel like I have a purpose again - even though I may not have gone to Arizona as a big league player or an employee of an MLB team.

My total number of autograph was around 441 - which seemed like a lower number than I'd expected to get.

When I start to feel like opportunities to get a particular player are shrinking - then it is disappointing. It isn't realistic to expect to get everyone, but it gnaws at me, on the way back home with my friend.

The weather in 2010 in Arizona wasn't as hot - I was glad that going there and coming back, the travel days to get from California to Arizona were more bearable.

While it did rain at least one day on the trip, going out for autographs - unlike 2009, it wasn't I felt like I was imploding every day I went out for autographs, because of the heat.

With my 'dinky,' but new point-and-shoot camera, I was able to take some images - here is one of Ken Griffey Jr.

"Hey, [Junior] - when are you going to sign?" A fan yelled during a Seattle Mariners / San Diego Padres spring training fan fest in Peoria.

"Tomorrow morning," Junior shot back. "[Catch me] at the Holiday Inn."

Featured card: 2009 Topps T-206 Josh Hamilton #266

Instead of trying to mess around with loose packs and blasters, not even being able to complete a set in process and ending up with doubles, triples, et al - I picked up a hand-collated complete set of 2009 Topps T-206 for the price of around two blaster boxes, probably a few bucks more.

As I go through the cards to talk about [like others here and there] - there was no way this Hamilton card was going to escape my notice.

A quick story I remember is I'm in Surprise Arizona this past year, trying to get Texas Rangers' autographs in spring training - Hamilton was signing autographs for fans and as he was moving from one section of the railing to the other, I think he actually chipped his tooth trying to hold up a soda can.

That is my Hamilton in-person story for the year - it is fitting Topps gets a picture of Hamilton balancing a bat with his teeth, because it seems to capture who he is.

2002 USA Baseball National Team Box Set recap

I picked up this 2002 Upper Deck Team USA National set for $25 - I bought this in-person at the 'psuedo card-show' set up at the MLBPA Arizona alumni game/Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals' 'fan fest' during my spring training trip to Arizona.

The lure of this box set are some of the alumni autographs - though I didn't get one I particularly liked and tried to highlight the cards in the boxed set of the 2002 USA Baseball National players who have played in the Major Leagues.

Not pictured: Shane Costa and Rickie Weeks.

Chad Cordero, Abe Alvarez, Phillip Humber, Huston Street and Clint Sammons

Carlos Quentin, Eric Patterson, Aaron Hill, Sam Fuld and Conor Jackson

Dustin Pedroia - 2008 American League MVP

Alumni jersey - Clint Sammons

Alumni autograph - Willie Bloomquist; I just about gagged when I pulled this, since I saw him on the field at Surprise Stadium, walking somewhere 10 minutes before I decided to pick up the box set.

According to Dave and Adam's Web site - autographed cards include Ryan Howard, Mark Prior, James Loney, Joe Mauer, Jeff Francoeur, Matt Holliday, JJ Hardy, Bobby Crosby.

Featured autograph - Nolan Ryan

One of the lures in collecting in-person autographs is what I consider - going after the 'big game.'

You can only put in so much time collecting the rank-and-file guys and even some of the stars - sometimes you need something to keep you motivated besides seeing and getting certain players/team personnel.

Depending on access and number of people who want the same thing as you do, trying to get anyone in particular can be nearly impossible - however, you are always hoping you get lucky.

During my 2009 spring training trip, I was hoping to get this living legend to sign for me at a Texas Rangers/Kansas City Royals game in Surprise - I didn't even focus on the players leaving the game in-between innings, since I was so focused on Nolan Ryan.

"I'll forget everyone else for Nolan," I heard one guy say to his buddy who was at the same game I was - it is too bad they didn't wait for him, since the buddy thought it wasn't Ryan whom he saw. I only told the buddy where Ryan sat, behind the Rangers' coaches.

When Ryan signed after the game - I was pretty excited at the opportunity to be able to approach him for an autograph. The ushers at the game made sure a certain number of people were to approach. I bought the 8x10 photo either on Ebay or at a card show four years ago, hoping to get it signed by mailing it to Ryan's foundation.

It was a Steiner Capture the Moment 8x10 matte photo - which shows Ryan pitching in his first no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals on May 15, 1973.

It is safe to say - the 8x10 became the crown jewel of my 2009 Cactus League spring training trip.

My Cactus League spring training images

In the process of cutting up my steak dinner from some chain restaurant in Peoria.

The crowd waiting for autographs swells up during the Milwaukee Brewers/Los Angeles Angels game at Maryvale.

There is a corner down along right field at Goodyear Stadium where you can 'go down' and ask for autographs from Cleveland Indians' players leaving the game in-between innings. Once the game starts over, you have to go back to your seats.

From the makeshift parking lot at Goodyear Stadium, you can see rows of what looks to be mothballed commercial airplanes in the distance.

At Surprise Stadium, the poor guy on the left with the bat was being grilled by Josh Hamilton because Hamilton thinks he already signed for the guy.

This image was taken the day Jason Giambi reported to Oakland Athletics' camp. A good number of people from the media wanted to get some time with him. He must have spent 40 minutes signing autographs after he was done with practice.

Everyone supposedly has his autograph, but 90-year old Bob Feller is a marvel when it comes to signing autographs. This image was taken in Surprise, where he threw out the first pitch at the MLBPA Arizona alumni game. He signed autographs from about 1:00-4:00 p.m. and hopefully he is still around and kicking for some time.

He has a little table during Indians' games at Goodyear Stadium, where he signs a photo [he provides] and takes a picture with you for $10.

The obscured player signing at Scottsdale Stadium is 2008 National League All-Star Brian Wilson of the San Francisco Giants.

It gets crazy sometimes getting autographs at Scottsdale, because I believe it is the only facility where you can go to in the morning as players' drive in [name any decent San Francisco Giants' player and either they go through the door furthest away from fans and/or they sign in the afternoon] and the 'small' space where you can stand along the railing as players walk up can get congested and unruly.

As far as this spring is concerned, Buster Posey, the No. 5 overall pick by the Giants still has to park on the minor league side of the parking lot and thus can still be approached without a railing separating him and the fans.

San Francisco Giants' non-roster invitee Justin Miller signs autographs and is always interesting to look at because of the 'ink' he sports. Three or four years ago, I think it was ESPN the Magazine that featured a 'centerfold' detailing many of Miller's 'tats' and piercings.

Chicago Cubs' outfielder Reed Johnson signing autographs outside the Cubs' weight room at HoHoKam park during a Cubs game vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Seattle Mariners bullpen coach John Wetteland stopping just outside the Mariners' complex in Peoria to sign autographs out of his Lambo.

Dodgers Manager Joe Torre obliges fans and signs autographs after a practice at Camelback Ranch.

Former Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda can be nasty as far as his attitude about signing random autographs are concerned, but he is pretty much making the rounds and signing for those who want his autograph.

Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Ryan Braun looks he is about to sign an autograph for a fan after practice in Maryvale. For a young superstar, he seems to still be accomodating as far as signing autographs, taking pictures and interacting with fans.

Itching to throw some blog posts up

Bobby Abreu - in-person success from spring training in Arizona, the weekend before he left for the World Baseball Classic.

I've been home from spring training about a week and I've finally got my play-by-play in order - all the gory details of a spring training trip typed up for posterity. I think some time has passed, so posting any specific results maybe outdated or just too esoteric. I had some fun and some nice autographs to show for my time.

It seems like my interest in baseball is pretty high right now - with seeing various talents light it up in the World Baseball Classic, the anticipation of an upcoming season and the need to find reasons to collect the autographs and cards related to baseball.

During my Cactus League trip, I had no internet access - which seems unheard of, but that was the situation. It was all about going to workouts and several games to get autographs. Time spent in a Motel 6 room, meant sorting cards and hopefully getting rested up for the next day.

I got the photos and cards I'd bought in the last minute weeks before I was leaving for spring training - in hand, after I'd returned from a 10-day long trip. It was a little 'clumsy' for me to order some stuff weeks before I left, when I should have done it months ahead.

I couldn't read any of blogs - especially Cardboard Junkie, which seems to be the pulse of the hobby as far as the average collector is concerned. Hopefully through thick and thin, the blog sticks around for a while.

I figured I'd probably miss out on 150 posts of the 10-15 blogs - I tend to visit on a daily basis.

These days, I care more about what I do to get autographs in-person and through the mail - but the foundation of my collecting endeavors still begin and end with baseball cards.

Apparently the most important trading card related news include:

Topps Walmart and Target blaster exclusives revealed - I busted a $19.99 Target blaster box, the lone one I could find, over the weekend. It didn't have the special code to indicate it was a Throwback blaster, but I wanted to bust a blaster to get a commemorative [manufactured] patch card of a baseball legend/icon.

The release of 2009 Upper Deck Spectrum [yawn] - I'm sure collectors are eager to bust this product and some of the D-List notables like [Kim Kardashian and Kendra Wilkinson] are a change of pace from the hair band autographs from 2008, but Spectrum is still a junky baseball product.

The release of 2009 Topps Heritage - I like retro products in bits and pieces, but Heritage has jumped the shark a long time ago, since it is a mainstream set with a strong following among dedicated collectors. I suppose I respect the product's 'lineage,' all the way back to 2001, but its really kind of boring for me to gawk and drool over these cards.

Gaffes in securing authentic examples for Presidential cut autograph cards - for both Upper Deck and Razor [from their $2,000 a pack product]. I received a random cut autograph insert of a former United States President [Woodrow Wilson] from an Upper Deck redemption and I wonder if I should be worried.

Also, Razor is pimping $5 singles on Ebay of their base cards from the draft sets all Bowman Chromed up - the company are calling their cards Razor Metal and they look Bowman Chrome good actually. I think I'd like to get several for my various autograph endeavors, but why get the Metal version, when original Razor cards [of a star draft pick perhaps] sell for about $1-$2 each on Ebay.

From what I've read, there is about a thousand of each card and whatever doesn't get purchased within the month, gets destroyed - I do wonder when Razor is producing particular cards [and products] with one audience [prospectors] in mind, doesn't it shrink its overall value? If they are catering to prospectors' whims [the prospector as a collector, not just the prospector who enjoys flipping cards for profit], then there is less value because any cards/products Razor produces isn't for the masses.

Prospectors who kind of back Razor's prospect products think particular cards [and products] are going to be worth something - but then if those particular cards [and products] is only produced with prospectors in mind, then they are the only ones going that are going to care and there won't be mainstream collectors to flip the cards to.

Some veteran collectors won't even look at Razor [and/or Donruss] baseball cards - if there is no mainstream collectibility, there isn't really the pent up demand for something, if somehow you have the first card of someone and it happens to be a parallel and autographed.

I like the non-MLB/non-MLBPA cards, especially if they happen to be the first cards I get signed of some first year baseball professionals - on the other hand, part of what makes something in demand [for baseball card collectors in general] is having potential with a ceiling to hit.

What Razor is doing is basically making 'collectors issues,' to fool collectors into thinking their products are going to valuable - they can put up some good numbers, but what is their ceiling? Its kind of like the 1980s or the early 1990s, when companies sprouted up left and right to produce random trading card sets that ended up having no long-term value.

Razor might not ever get a MLB/MLBPA license - but they'd better find a way to make sure they aren't just catering to one genre of collectors.

Spring training trip preview: San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres look to go through a period of rebuilding and I kind of hope if you are getting their autographs - the 'foot traffic' to watch them practice is less and you will have a better opportunity of getting a particular player you need

I always need to get particular players' on particular cards or just in general - even though you know you aren't seeing a potential contender in a team like the Padres, but a clustermuck of players [from Jake Peavy to Adrian Gonzalez to Edgar Gonzalez to David Eckstein to Chris Young to Cliff Floyd to Brian Giles, et al] lucky to sniff some respectibility.

One person/player's autograph to get [a priority] - Jake Peavy
One person/player's autograph I'd like to get [a name to look for] - Mark Prior
Player featured [I'd like to get his autograph too] - Chris Young

Spring training trip preview: Seattle Mariners

The Mariners may not be one of the better teams to see in spring training - if Ichiro and Kenji Johjima are already with Team Japan by next week or so.

One person/player's autograph to get [a priority] - Felix Hernandez
One person/player's autograph I'd like to get [a name to look for] - John Wetteland [bullpen coach]; Wetteland was a bullpen star through the 1990s and closed out the 1996 World Series.
Player featured [I'd like to get his autograph too] - Franklin Gutierrez, pictured as a Cleveland Indians' player on his 2008 Upper Deck First Edition card. Is that Grady Sizemore behind him, with the eye black?

Spring training trip preview: Oakland Athletics

The Athletics are an intriguing organization and I'll be looking forward to hunting these guys down for autographs - including established Major Leaguers like Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi.

The organization has a lot of pitching talent [Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, James Simmons, Vin Mazzaro, Gio Gonzalez, Brett Hunter, Henry Rodriguez] - who may or may not eventually turn into Major League quality arms.

For the most part, the A's offer pretty good access to players at their facility at Papago Park - particularly as workouts wind down for the morning.

A possible 'special guest instructor' visiting camp maybe Rickey Henderson - so it might be a treat [literally, figuratively and maybe sarcastically] to possibly see him in about a week or so and try to get his scribble.

One person/player's autograph to get [a priority] - Matt Holliday
One person/player's autograph I'd like to get [a name to look for] - Jason Giambi
Player featured [I'd like to get his autograph too] - Brett Hunter

Spring training trip preview: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are likely the most popular team to see in the Cactus League in 2009 - they have a new facility, which long-time Dodgers fans might not like just because they have left their Dodgertown in Vero Beach for good, but being in Arizona puts the team in relative close proximity to the rabid West Coast fan base, wanting to see their Dodgers warm up before the season starts.

One person/player's autograph to get [a priority] - Clayton Kershaw
One person/player's autograph I'd like to get [a name to look for] - Sandy Koufax; I've heard he is reclusive, but I'm betting he'll show up at some point during spring training to visit with the organization and maybe sign some autographs for fans. I'm not banking on it, but if I'm lucky enough to see him and 'win the battle' to get an autograph, then I'll consider my trip a success.
Player featured [I'd like to get his autograph too] - Randy Wolf

Spring training trip preview: Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs will be the second most popular team in the Cactus League - with a number of all-star quality players, an angry [motivated] Milton Bradley, manager Lou Piniella, Derrek Lee, Kosuke Fukudome, Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Zambrano, et al.

From what I've seen access to players at their camp is particularly tough - though I was barely able to get Lee and Fukudome after one practice in 2008.

One person/player's autograph to get [a priority] - Carlos Zambrano
One person/player's autograph I'd like to get [a name to look for] - Billy Williams
Player featured [I'd like to get his autograph too] - Reed Johnson

Spring training trip preview: Los Angeles Angels [of Anaheim]

The Angels are my 'home town' team but they don't have a sterling reputation about signing autographs - Gary Matthews Jr. is picky about when, where and how many he signs. John Lackey used to be an accomodating signer four or five years ago, but at times, he is more likely to treat you like an opposing batter [if you want his autograph] unless you are one smokin' cutie.

Vladimir Guerrero seem like a warm, humble and great guy with no ego and a great smile - but unless you know him personally, try to get him back in his native country of the Dominican Republic or under special circumstances - he will literally ignore any request stateside to sign autographs in-person.

Kendry Morales is a 25-year old first baseman - a defector from Cuba and a high profile signing, he was sort of buried in the minors for a few years with Casey Kotchman at first base. Morales barely spent time in the Major Leagues after Kotchman was traded for Mark Teixeira in 2008. However, he finally gets an opportunity to stick with the Angels in 2009 after Teixeira bolted for the New York Yankees.

One person/player's autograph to get [a priority] - John Lackey
One person/player's autograph I'd like to get [a name to look for] - Vladimir Guerrero
Player featured [I'd like to get his autograph too] - Kendry Morales

Spring training trip preview: San Francisco Giants

I found the Buster Posey/Gordon Beckham dual insert card - probably two of the young players in spring training I want to see up close. Spring training is a time to get autographs of various young players and every camp there are at least one or two 'phenoms' who are either destined to Major League stars or Major League busts.

One person/player's autograph to get [a priority] - Tim Lincecum
One person/player's autograph I'd like to get [a name to look for] - Will Clark
Player featured [I'd like to get his autograph too] - Buster Posey

Spring training trip preview: Kansas City Royals

An update here and there is haphazardly made to try to keep up with the transactions while keeping track of cards I still need or already have for spring training - I'm worried a friend is picking up cards left and right [of different players, multiple quantities], leaving me behind.

Perhaps I've got to focus on a little 'game planning,' so I get stuff signed - it means making do with what I have [I think I have enough] and realize it isn't a battle and there are really different priorities as far as what I need to get autographed.

One person/player's autograph to get [a priority] - Alex Gordon
One person/player's autograph I'd like to get [a name to look for] -Zack Greinke
Player featured [I'd like to get his autograph too] - David DeJesus

Spring training trip preview: Milwaukee Brewers

You can get a number of players, personnel, special assistant to the GM [former players], minor league coaches, et al during spring training - I can't worry about who I don't have cards/other items for with the number of cards/possibly other items I'm bringing during the trip. I've always believed in being concise and bringing everything for everyone, but you cannot anticipate everything.

One person/player's autograph to get [a priority] - Prince Fielder
One person/player's autograph I'd like to get [a name to look for] - Trot Nixon; haven't seen him at all and I still need an 'old' 8x10 and a 2004 Topps Cracker Jack set card signed.
Player featured [I'd like to get his autograph too] - Ryan Braun; maybe down to signing cards without personalizations?